Moles Specialist

Most patients don’t pay attention to their moles unless the mole is in a visible area that affects their appearance. But moles can mutate into melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Tarek Fakhouri, MD, at Skin Cancer Specialists protects your health with a whole-body mole check and immediate mole removal in the office, if necessary. Whether you’ve noticed a change in a mole’s appearance or you’re overdue for a skin cancer screening, call the office in Sugarland, Texas, or book an appointment online.

Moles Q & A

Why are moles potentially dangerous?

Although moles are usually harmless, they can turn into the most dangerous form of skin cancer: melanoma.

Melanoma develops when cellular DNA is damaged by exposure to ultraviolet light from natural sunlight and tanning beds. As a result, the cells grow rapidly, creating a cluster that turns a normal mole into melanoma.

Melanoma is curable when treated early, but it quickly spreads to other parts of your body. Once it spreads, it’s hard to treat and is often fatal.

Dr. Fakhouri performs head-to-toe skin cancer screening, examining every skin lesion and checking every mole for signs of abnormal changes. If he detects any changes, he immediately removes the mole and checks it for signs of cancer.

When should a mole be removed?

You can have moles removed any time they affect your appearance. When an existing mole changes or begins to bleed, or when a new mole appears, it’s definitely time to schedule a mole check and removal. Contact Dr. Fakhouri when you notice the “ABCDE” changes in a mole — they’re signs of melanoma:

Asymmetry: one half of the mole doesn’t match the other
Border: borders should be smooth; irregular borders signal cancerous changes
Color: moles should be one color; cancerous moles have a mix of tan, brown, black, blue, red, or white
Diameter: moles should be smaller than a pencil eraser
Evolving: moles should never change their appearance

As a general guideline, look for any mole that looks different from the rest.

How are moles removed?

Dr. Fakhouri performs mole removal using several techniques, which are all quick procedures that leave little to no scarring. After removing a mole, he looks at it under a microscope, checking for signs of cancer.

When Dr. Fakhouri discovers cancerous changes, he removes enough tissue around the mole to eliminate all cancerous cells. However, if he finds evidence of advanced melanoma, the team at Skin Cancer Specialists help you get connected with the experts you need for treatment.

Melanoma is treatable when detected early. Protect your health with a whole-body skin cancer screening at Skin Cancer Specialists. To schedule an appointment, call the office, or use the online booking feature.